Bernese Mountain Dog

Before giving a Bernese Mountain Dog a forever home, consider any possible health issues. Not every dog experiences them, but it’s important to be prepared. 

For more advice on potential health issues for Bernese Mountain Dogs, speak to your local vet. Some practices offer ‘pre-purchase consultations.’ These tell you about potential health conditions, management options and an idea of financial costs. 

If you’re considering buying a puppy, they can advise you on finding a responsible breeder and testing for genetic diseases. 

Any breed of dog needs basic preventative healthcare like vaccinations and flea and worming treatments. Pet insurance is also important to help cover your vet bills.

There is no set amount for how much food your Bernese Mountain Dog needs. This depends on their:

• age
• size
• activity levels
• fitness
• weight. 

The information on dog food packets can be a helpful guide, but you still need to adapt the portion size to your dog’s individual needs. 

It’s helpful to know your Bernese Mountain Dog’s body condition when deciding how much food to give them. You can find out about body condition scoring through the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WVASA). 

Check with your vet to find out more.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are usually moderately active dogs who need regular exercise and stimulation to keep them physically and mentally healthy. 

They need daily walks, plus plenty of time and opportunity to explore, burn energy, and play. Like all dogs, they need training and benefit from daily enrichment. 

If you enjoy regular time outdoors, this breed could be a great match for you.

Bernese Mountain Dogs, like all dogs, need training and daily enrichment. When exercising your Bernese Mountain Dog, consider their:

• age
• health
• personality. 

Young or growing pups, for example, might need a few short walks instead of one long one. Exercise plans for older, injured, or ill dogs may need to be adapted based on advice from your vet. Quiet, peaceful walks may suit some dogs, where others may require something more sociable. 

Ask your vet for advice on exercising your dog.

Bernese Mountain Dogs shed heavily. To put your dog at ease and help their confidence, introduce handling and grooming step by step. This will make grooming more enjoyable for everyone and ensure a positive experience for your pup.

When in their crate, your dog should be able to comfortably:

• stand up at their full height
• turn around without touching the sides
• lie down and stretch out
• wag their tail.

Slowly build up the time your dog spends in their crate to help them feel positive about it. They should associate it with good things happening.

Like people, each dog is different with their own individual personality and experience. So, the temperaments of different Bernese Mountain Dogs vary. 

Dogs learn all about the world as they grow from puppies to adult pooches. They find out what they do and don’t like, and develop responses to situations differently.

 For instance, some might enjoy new experiences like meeting other dogs. Others might need to take it a bit slower.

You really can teach any dog new tricks. The key is positive learning. Find out what gets your dog’s tail wagging with excitement. Snacks or toys are popular choices, or even lots of praise. Whatever it is, you can use it as a reward during training to help them enjoy the learning. 

Make sure to work on useful life skills like recall, loose lead walking and settling with your dog. This will help you both feel relaxed and confident in tackling your daily life together.

Every dog has a different personality shaped by their life experiences. They develop likes and dislikes as they grow, and react differently to situations. 

However, some ways of respecting and behaving safely around dogs are universal to all pooches. 

It’s important for the whole family to know about this. To learn more, book one of our family workshops on living safely together. They’re suitable for children aged 7 to 11.